The Complicated History Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy Presented by Veradigm

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Featured Story   Regeneron Cancer Drug Flashes Broader Potential The data drop Regeneron Pharmaceuticals drug linvoseltamab, an FDA-approved treatment for multiple myeloma, has encouraging new preliminary data in light chain amyloidosis, a potentially fatal rare blood disorder that leads to abnormal protein buildup in organs. Preliminary Phase 1 results presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology show 90% of participants achieved a complete hematological response to the drug. The Phase 2 portion of the Phase 1/2 study is ongoing with the potential to support a regulatory submission seeking FDA approval. The drug Linvoseltamab is a bispecific antibody designed to bind to a protein on a T cell and a protein on a disease-driving plasma cell, directing the T cell to kill the pathogenic one. Why this matters Standard treatment for light chain amyloidosis is a combination of therapies used for multiple myeloma. But for relapsed or refractory cases of light chain amyloidosis, no other therapies are currently available. Linvoseltamab could become a new treatment option for these patients, and perhaps even a new first-line therapy. Andres Sirulnik, Regeneron’s senior vice president, hematology, says the drug goes after the source of the disease — pathogenic plasma cells. He likens the approach to turning off a faucet. Soundbite “Once you turn the faucet off, which is essentially getting rid of a malignant plasma cell, you're not shedding large quantities of misfolded protein that deposits in the organ,” Sirulnik said. “The key is to turn the faucet off, to turn the malignant cell off.” —By Frank Vinluan Sponsored   The Complicated History Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy Presented by Veradigm In the latest MedCity Fem FwD, Veradigm's Janna Manjelievskaia breaks down the 2026 Women's Health Report: HRT trends, the WHI misinterpretation, and what real-world EHR data reveals.  Download the full episode! Top Stories   Signos Secures $20M to Expand CGM Use Beyond Diabetes The moolah Continuous glucose monitoring is continuing to expand beyond its traditional role in diabetes care. On Wednesday, Silicon Valley-based startup Signos raised $20 million for its glucose monitoring platform for weight loss and management. Dexcom, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and GV (Google Ventures) participated in the investment round, which brought Signos’ fundraising total to $57 million since its founding in 2018. How it works The company combines continuous glucose monitoring technology with an app and coaching program designed to help users better understand how diet and lifestyle choices affect their metabolism. Signos relies on Dexcom's Stelo sensor, which became the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor cleared by the FDA in 2024. Signos’ app analyzes the glucose data collected by the device and provides personalized recommendations to help users make dietary and lifestyle changes. Investors see the startup’s platform as complementary to the growing use of GLP-1 drugs, which have fueled unprecedented consumer interest in weight loss and management. Subscriptions cost between $129 and $449 per month, depending on the length of the user’s commitment. Going beyond appetite suppression GLP-1s can be helpful tools for many people, but they don’t teach long-term metabolic understanding, pointed out Signos CEO Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer. Signos aims to drive behavior change by pairing glucose data with AI-generated insights that help users understand how their bodies respond to food. “Many people regain weight after stopping GLP-1s because they return to the same patterns without realizing it. Without understanding how food, meal timing, movement and stress affect their body, people often struggle to maintain results once appetite suppression fades,” Fouladgar-Mercer explained. — By Katie Adams Why Health Insurers, Ob-Gyns and Medicaid State Agencies Should Care About Oral Health The link between oral health and maternal health Pregnant women with gum disease are 3-4 times more likely to develop pre-eclampsia, a dangerous condition involving a sudden spike in blood pressure and signs of damage to other organs such as the kidneys, according to the National Center for Biotech Information.  But Ob-Gyns are not screening for dental/oral health just as they are not really screening for mental health. So who should step into this gap — health plans serving state Medicaid agencies, believe digital health executives at MySwaddle. Especially given the funding that the federal government is providing to state Medicaid agencies. CMS is prioritizing maternal health The Biden administration instituted the Transforming Maternal Health Model (TMaH) to reduce expenditures while adopting a “whole-person approach to pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.” The goal is to address care for pregnant moms enrolled inMedicaid through the early stages of pregnancy through to birth and postpartum.  An app - called MySwaddle - aims to incorporate oral care into a digital integrated care and engagement tool for pregnant moms, primarily for pregnant moms on Medicaid. Why this matters While 86% of pregnant women on Medicaid report dental problems, only 35% seek treatment, representing a covered benefit that is vastly underutilized, said Jourdan Miller, director of sales, mySwaddle. Meanwhile, emergency dental visits average about $1,500 per visit, she noted.  “That’s a significant spend for something that is really entirely preventable through routine care. So when a member skips a dentist [visit] and the condition deteriorates and [the member] ends up in the ER, that’s the most expensive, least appropriate setting for dental care.” —By Arundhati Parmar 4 Notable Health Tech Funding Announcements in May The skinny Health tech companies made several major funding announcements in May, including Forus, Garner Health, Nourish and Commure. The details Forus, an AI-powered platform, raised $160 million from investors including Thrive Capital, General Catalyst, Accel and Bain Capital Ventures. Garner Health, which helps patients find high-quality providers, secured $100 million in Series E funding led by Index Ventures, bringing its valuation to $2.74 billion. Nourish, a virtual nutrition platform, raised $100 million in Series C funding led by Menlo Ventures, bringing its total funding to $215 million. Commure, which provides AI-powered workflow and revenue cycle tools for health systems, raised $70 million led by General Catalyst to expand its platform and global AI infrastructure. — By Marissa Plescia Video   Video: How to Think About AI in Prior Authorizations How should we think about leveraging AI in managing prior authorizations? Matt Parker, chief product officer of Cohere Health, explains three things to watch in this video.

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Why Ob-Gyns, States, and Plans, Should Care About Oral Health While there are growing efforts to link dental health with overall health, the urgency should be felt strongly not only by pregnant women but, more importantly, by their care providers and health insurance companies. For instance, pregnant women with gum disease are 3-4 times more likely to develop pre-eclampsia, an emergency condition. Telehealth is Making GLP-1s More Accessible – But Access Alone isn’t Enough Providing access to GLP-1s only solves part of the problem. In fact, without a broader approach, it may lead to new challenges alongside the ones it aims to address. Preparing Benefits For the Next Wave: Gene Therapy Medications The rise of metabolic gene therapies represents a critical juncture for benefits management. These treatments offer genuine hope for patients with serious conditions, but they also pose significant financial challenges.

Podcast   MedCity FemFwd: The Complicated History Behind Hormone Replacement Therapy In this episode, we’re joined by Janna Manjelievskaia, director of health economics and outcomes research at Veradigm. We discuss Veradigm’s recent Women’s Health Insights Report, which highlights the complicated history around Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a medication used to treat menopause. Watch Now

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